The final wall of resistance against stimulus spending has now crumbled: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, perhaps the most vocal critic of the bill outside of Capitol Hill, now says he’ll spend the money that his state receives — at least some of it, anyway.
This is definitely a change. Sanford previously said he had his staff looking at the plan, but “for a different reason” than other governors — that is, to figure out what was wrong with it. And South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House Dem Whip, had been exploring ways to force Sanford’s hands.
But Sanford now says his opposition “doesn’t preclude taking the money,” and he’ll be looking over the plan to decide which parts of it will help his state.